Michael read physics at Imperial College before switching to the Bar. He was called in 1980. In 1991 he was appointed Junior Counsel to the Treasury in Patent and related matters, a post he held until he took silk in 1996. Whilst Treasury Junior he advised the government on many IP matters and represented it regularly in tribunals up to the European Court. He was accredited as a mediator by ADR Chambers in 2004, since when he has regularly conducted IP  mediations. He also devises and conducts courses on mediation for the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents and solicitors firms’ as part of litigation practice courses organised by City University.

Michael is one of the leading IP silks. He has appeared in many leading patent, trade mark and copyright cases over the last 20 years and is well known for his technical grasp and IP expertise. He is currently heavily engaged in patent cases concerned with mobile telephone technology, a field of considerable technological complexity.

As a mediator, Michael has a rapidly growing reputation as an effective facilitator of positive discussions between the parties. Since becoming accredited, he has mediated disputes in all areas of IP. These include patent infringement and validity, inventors’ rights, trade marks, designs, copyright, licensing, franchising and distribution as well as supply agreements for goods to defined specifications.